I paint trees to enchant you with their beauty and share their earthy poetry.

Why paint?  My friend, who worked in forestry, said to me “I’m concerned that by the time my grandchildren are born, they will think that a 6” diameter tree is fully grown”.  I’ve had the opportunity to fly over British Columbia mountains, or see a picture of Galiano Island from the air, after it was logged, and my heart breaks. I feel the great grief that lingers there.  I want to do something, and so I paint.

Trees are a vibrant expression of the earth that we are all grounded in.  They are as individual in their form, development and expression as humans are and they have a message for us.  Sometimes I am so enchanted with the details of the scene I want to capture it as realistically as possible, and other times, I’m overwhelmed with emotion and my feelings fill the canvas.  When creating a tree portraiture I focus on the tree’s message and paint the scene as an expression of how the tree might perceive it’s environment.

While we might not all be able to spend time in the forest communing with trees like this Garry Oak, through art you can bring this experience indoors, and influence your business and home environments with their message.  Science tells us, backing up common sense, that we are imprinted by the art we have on our walls.  When we invest in this gentle influence, nudging our hearts and minds each time we enter a room, it will become a part of us and change our hearts.  We will begin to fall in love and what we love we will protect and provide for.

Who is the artist?

I was introduced to fine arts through Famous Artists Course for Talented Young People.   Community art courses by inspiring fellow artists, the challenge of painting and showing alongside other artists in associations and independent studies continued to expand my knowledge. A partnership with a framing business in Grande Prairie, AB, allowed me the opportunity to show my work and accept portrait and landscape commissions as a home based business for several years. I was thrilled to be chosen by the City of Grande Prairie with a commission of a chuck wagon race painting which was presented as a gift to Grande Prairie’s sister city, Grande Prairie, Texas Mayor, with prints for Council Members. Alberta Power commissioned my work for their offices and retirement gifts. Later, my career in commercial real estate, property management and volunteer management took me in a different direction.  During this time, I expanded my artistic expression as a playwright and director of over 15 musicals involving up to 80 cast members in church and community events in Grande Prairie and Abbotsford.  Now that I am semi retired I given in to my life long “head over heels” love of trees and paint to share their beauty and message with the world.

Where are the paintings created?

A beautiful setting to put the finishing touches on this springtime scene!

Having visited Galiano Island as a vacation destination for over 30 years and enjoying the island as a “weekender” for 10 years I became a full time Islander in 2013, and now focus on capturing the beauty of this “Gem of the Salish Sea.”  You will find me at the beach on the north end, Dionisio Point, entranced in painting the wild joy of our endangered Gary Oak trees or in my hilltop studio surrounded by the trees I love!

More recently my journey has taken me to Costa Rica for several months each year where I have walked in what feels to me like a hallowed place, the “Roble Dahl”, the ancient oak forests of the Talamanca Mountains.  Every time I have the opportunity to walk among these ancient beauties I am so deeply moved that I weep.  The lush jungle of the Osa Peninsula also captures my heart with it’s vibrant colours. I look forward to sharing their beauty and message through my art.